Hinduism for the ignorant

Hinduism is the most ancient religion in the world that has survived an onslaught of colonial subjugation, bigoted misinterpretation, and evangelical conversion attempts.  

Recently, I have encountered quite a few social media posts about Hinduism, mocking the gods/goddesses, and its religious practices.  Here is a couple from X:

Typically, the people who post these messages have a rudimentary understanding of the religion, and often have ulterior motives of the religio-political kind and the western anti-immigration rant (as above) that compels them to dig up random images or one-sided articles to support their theory of how bad the religion is.  

While Hinduism itself is not dependent on validation from any quarters as it is a self-evident, self-sufficient, and self-sustaining code of life, I still thought I should address the mind-numbing ignorance evident in such posts.  

I find that there are two kinds of ignorant people when it comes to Hinduism:

The genuinely ignorant: the typical kupa-mundakas - the frogs-in-the-well, who do not know that any religion other than Christianity and Islam exists in the world, but are open to know more about Hinduism.

The deliberately ignorant: the radical, bigoted, evangelical missionaries whose business interest it is to deny the good aspects of Hinduism and highlight its shortcomings so that they can cover up the defects of their own religion while they peddle their ideology to their gullible flock.

I shall attempt to present fact-based findings from my own study of Hinduism with the hope that the first kind would find it informative and helpful in broadening their horizons, and the second would at least tone down the rhetoric, although, I suspect it is a tall order.

I am not doing this just because I need to rise to the defence of the religion I was born into.  On the contrary, I had been ignorant myself of the deeper aspects of Hindu customs and culture, thanks to the Macaulayian education system that I studied in.  I realised I needed to find out more about all religions, and undertook a comparative study of the major faiths of the world.  Through this, I have come to appreciate the beauty inherent in Hinduism vis-a-vis other religions. 

Here's a list of accusations against Hinduism that I have encountered in the social media messages.  I shall attempt to address each of them based on the observations and inferences from my own deep-dive into the tenets of Hinduism.

Hinduism is caste-based: 

Since every bigot worth his salt will rake up this issue in his rant against Hinduism, I thought I should address this first.  The caste identity was originally based on the individual vocation rather than the accident of birth.  None of the Hindu scriptures advocates discrimination based on caste; both of these - postnatal caste determination and caste-based discrimination - are later, unfortunate developments.  

The hierarchy was never meant to be rigid and the identity was always meant to be fluid, with members moving from one level to another, depending on their natural disposition and vocation.  In modern-day India, caste-based discrimination is largely confined to the smaller towns and villages.  It does not help matters that the caste-based reservation system has been institutionalized by the country's Constitution, which only serves to strengthen these divisions.   

Besides, people who throw the caste brick at us should realise that divisions are part of their own religions.  Consider these:  

Christianity: literally, hundreds of denominations - too many to list here!

Islam: Shia, Sunni, Ahmadiyya, Sufi

Judaism: Reconstructionist, Hasidic, Orthodox, Rabbinic

Buddhism: Heenayana, Mahayana, Theravada, Tibetan, Zen

Jainism: Shvetambar, Digambar

Sikhism: Namdhari, Khalsa, Nirankari

You get the picture?  Adherents of these sects are often at loggerheads with each other; if God is one why do their religions have so many sects?  Not to justify divisions in society, but know it to be the nature of man to divide himself into smaller and smaller groups based on characters such as race, nationality, culture and religion - this is a universal problem, not confined to Hinduism alone. 

Further reading:

• Rajiv Malhotra's excellent exposition on caste: Varna, Jati, Caste: A primer on Indian Social Structures (also read Dr B R Ambedkar's views on Islam while you are at it).

There are so many Hindu gods!

Yes there are; said to be about 33 crore in all (i.e., 330 million!).  But the primary underlying god is one: Brahman (or the Universal Consciousness, or the Unifying Energy).  Hinduism believes in the concept of ishtadevata (one's chosen god), which is one aspect of this unifying energy that appeals to the disposition of the worshipper.  Many families have kuladevatas (clan gods) and many villages have gramadevatas (village gods).  Even natural phenomena such as weather-related events or diseases have personified god elements.  

This might sound confusing to an uninitiated mind, but the basic principle is this: Brahman is one, but its manifestations are many.  Just look around you; the world is teeming with lifeforms of all kinds.  There are hundreds of varieties of any given species of flora or fauna.  Even among humans there are multiple races and ethnicities.  When there is so much diversity in our tiny little world, which is but a speck in the infinite cosmos, why not among gods?  Why can't the infinite energy multiply itself into smaller energies with specific attributes or functions? 

Hindus may worship many gods in many temples, but the basic underlying principle is the same.  It is this principle (the higher Self) that the atma (soul or the lower self) of a Hindu aims to merge into eventually, thus escaping the karmic cycle of life and birth.  This merger is called moksha (also called nirvana, kaivalya, nirvikalpa samadhi, the turiya state, or god-realisation).  This is possible only when one gives up attachment to the phenomenal world, and negates the ego or the lower self through sustained spiritual practices such as meditation.  

Since this is a difficult standard for an average person to aspire to, one can focus on the ishtadevata while one purifies the mind.  Therefore, the gods function as markers for seekers to focus on, or signposts while traversing the difficult path towards self-annihilation leading to moksha.  This is the path of bhakti (intense emotional devotion): the idea is to move from the formed manifestation of god to the formless Brahman.  

Further reading: 

• Swami Chinmayananda's book, Glory of Krishna
  
• The Bhakta Meera book
  
• My Sky-clad book review & interview

Hindu gods look grotesque: 

Yes, the anthropomorphised forms of our gods do appear distinct from you and I.  Some have many hands, many faces, blue/dark complexion, elephant/monkey face, etc.  They are usually accompanied by a variety of natural elements and beings: lotuses, trees, banana leaves, fruits, elephants, bulls, tigers, lions, mice, and even dogs.  Like I said, Hinduism does not discriminate against any life form for 'being dirty;' everything fits into the larger scheme of things.  

Some chief examples of our gods are:

Gods with animal faces:

Ganesha/Vinayaka (elephant-faced): first among gods/remover of obstacles

Hanuman/Bajrangbali (monkey-faced): Rama's messenger/destroyer of evil

Trimurtis (the Holy Trinity):

Brahma: preceptor/creator god (with 4 heads)

Vishnu/Narayana: preserver god (with a lotus growing out of His navel)

Shiva: destroyer/regenerator god (with a snake around His neck)

Tridevis (the 3 main goddesses):

Saraswati: goddess of learning (consort of Brahma; She is seated on a white lotus, holding the veena - a stringed musical instrument) 

Lakshmi: goddess of wealth/prosperity (consort of Narayana; She is seated on a pink lotus, accompanied by white elephants on either side)

Parvathi: goddess of creation/motherhood (consort of Shiva; She is seated next to Shiva, accompanied by a tiger/lion)

Each deity may have several avataras (yes, the term existed long before the eponymous sci-fi film came along).  Narayana Himself manifests as Dashavatara (10 avataras): fish, tortoise, boar, man-lion, dwarf, axe-warrior, Rama, Krishna, Buddha & Kalki (yet to manifest), depending on the yugas (epochs) and their dharmic requirements.

Again, it is to do with how the gods have been conceptualised by various seekers over the millennia.  Scriptural descriptions of the physical aspects of these deities also exist, based on which, artists have imagined how the gods might have appeared to their bhaktas.  The foremost among these artists is Raja Ravi Varma, a 19th century painter of royal lineage whose lithographs of gods/goddesses adorn our pooja rooms (shrines) to this day.  Ultimately, they are the saguna (formed with physical features) manifestations of the nirguna (formless Brahman) entity. 

The contentious image in the tweets above, that of Kali - the fierce avatara of Goddess Parvathi - carries its own significance of victory of good over evil.  She manifested to kill the demons (hence the garland of skulls) and Her fervour had to be assuaged by a sleeping Shiva who She stepped on, realised Her error, and calmed down. It is through Her divine grace that the 5th century Sanskrit poet, Kalidasa achieved a state of wisdom (hence his name; 'servant of Kali'), and more recently, the 19th century Saint of Dakshineshwar, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa, was blessed with the divine vision of his beloved Ma Kali.  

Indeed, every feature of the physical representation of all the deities has its own relevance.  Just because they appear kitsch does not mean that they are creations of a fanciful imagination, as the tweet above suggests.  It is a bit rich coming from a culture that peddles to its children the notion that a bearded, potbellied, old man in a red suit slides down the chimney in the night to leave them presents!

Further reading: 

• For a quick lowdown, read Devdutt Pattanaik's 7 Secrets from Hindu Calendar Art

[Dwarapalakas of the 12th Century Hoysaleshwara Temple at Halebidu] 

[Notice the broken arms and defacement of the idols carried out during the 14th Century Islamist raids]

Hindus are idolators and object-worshippers: 

What is your problem exactly with idols?  Just because it is mentioned in your scriptures that the believers should not worship Egyptian statues, you seem to have developed a deep aversion to them.  When you put up your religious symbols and sculptures of messiahs and saints, aren't they idols?  Then why single out Hinduism?

Pictures, statues and idols are the saguna (formed) representation of the one nirguna (formless) Brahman.  They are focal points for seekers to look at and concentrate their positive thoughts and prayers on.  In certain places, the origin of these images is considered to be esoteric or swayambhu (self-generated).  In such and other significant tirthsthalas (places of pilgrimage), the spiritual energy level is significantly elevated.  Combine this with certain auspicious moments, and you have a potent combination of place and time that is seeped in spiritual energy for all to benefit from - the Kumbh Mela (that's happening now, as I write this) is one such occasion.  

Temple garbhagudis (sancta sanctorum) and even pooja rooms (shrines) in homes are so repeatedly consecrated with the sound of mantras and bells, the aura of incense and aarti (fire of veneration), and the offering of fruits and naivedya (consecrated food), that they emanate divine energy that the worshippers can absorb by doing pradakshine (circumambulating the deity).  Hence the need for images and idols kept in temples and shrines.  

Since scientific studies are now confirming that everything in the universe is some form of energy, we believe this to be true about objects as well.  The equipment of war, the tools of building, the books of learning, and the gadgets of communication are all worthy of veneration.  In fact, they have special days of their own every year: Ayudha Pooja (for weapons & instruments) and Saraswati Pooja (for books and learning materials) during the Navaratri period.  

Sceptics among you should understand that the human body is made of the same materials and energies found in the universe; the panchamahabhutas (the 5 natural elements - air, water, fire, earth and ether).  The only difference between living and nonliving entities is the presence of sentience and consciousness in the former, but at the atomic level, they are all the same.  

Further reading: 

• Travel-blog on a visit to the Dharmaraya Temple in Bengaluru
  
• Travel-vlog on a visit to the birth place of Adi Shankara - Kalady in Kerala

Hindu religious practices are based in superstitions: 

What appears to be a superstition for an external person is actually rooted in some kind of logic or scientific basis.  This is often the case with most Hindu rituals.  It is just that we have been following these rituals for such a long time without questioning that we do not know their deeper significance.  Had we bothered to ask our grandparents and elders about these practices, we perhaps would have better understood them.  

Let's consider a small example.  During Sankranti, on 14th of January (that's today, when I post this), there exists the practice of consuming a high-energy mixture of groundnuts, jaggery, lentils and sesame seeds, which on the face of it, appears to be just another cultural fad.  However, the mixture provides energy to ward off the effects of seasonal change.  Sankranti is the period when the sun makes it annual northern ascent, and marks the onset of spring and the harvest season with longer days; hence the need for additional energy during this period.  

Pseudosecular rationalists who decry every Hindu ritual, conveniently overlook the ignominious fake-healing sessions organised by pastors, ritual blood-letting of animals during 'holy days,' and female genital mutilation to control the 'hypersexuality of women,' to name just a few disdainful Abrahamic practices.  

Hinduism is the most scientific religion; you only need to look at the deeper significance of the ritual to understand this.  The mental and physical health significance of yoga and other spiritual practices of Hinduism are being validated through more and more western scientific studies. 

In addition, the spiritual experience of people who have had near-death experiences and those who have undergone regression therapy are in concordance with what's already written in the Vedas and the descriptions of exalted states by rishis.

Further reading: 

• How a largely Abrahamic society targeted Osho 
  
• My response to an Abrahamic doctor in a missionary hospital who asked if yoga is validated
• Review of the psychiatrist, Brian L Weiss's book Many Lives, Many Masters

Hindu festivals are polluting: 

It is extraordinary how environmental consciousness emerges in the pseudosecular mind just before Diwali every year!  Fireworks set off during Guy Fawkes Day in the UK, Olympics opening ceremonies, and new year celebrations across the world are apparently not as polluting.  

Many Hindu festivals are nature-based; they celebrate natural events such as harvests and solstices.  Hindu festival dates are arrived at as per the lunisolar Vikram Samvat and the panchanga calendars.  They are marked by lighting of lamps, decorations with fruits and flowers, wearing new clothes, and eating a vegetarian feast.  Most Hindu festivals do not involve animal killing, which is a routine practice in Abrahamic religions so much so that during certain festivals, streets are said to be coloured in red due to the mass killing of animals.  

More recently, environment-friendly options such as green crackers and clay Ganeshas for immersion are trends that are catching on.  There is also the flexibility of focusing only on the bhakti aspect of the festival without bursting crackers or immersing idols.  

Further reading: 

• The yearly fashionable trend of pseudosecular Diwali bashing
• The same old nonsense about the 'new year'

Hindu artforms are sexually disinhibited: 

They are sexually expressive, is what they are.  From the greatest treatise on sex, Vatsyayana's Kamasutra, to the erotic friezes and sculptures of the Khajuraho temple complex, to the symbolic union of the male and female sexual organs in the form of the Shivalinga, Hinduism is the most sexually expressive religion in the world.  

Before you raise your questioning brows with a self-righteous smirk on your face, ask yourself this: how did you emerge into this world?  Not through 'immaculate conception,' I take it!  There is no delicate way of saying this: you are here in your physical body because your parents had sex with each other.  Abrahamic religions are preoccupied with the notion of sin, and consider sex and eroticism  condemnable, and brush them under the carpet.  Denial and repression of sex is rampant in puritanical societies, where women are treated as sexual objects to be safeguarded by covering them up like bank vaults.  

Harnessing the sexual energy is one of the requirements of the spiritual practice of kundalini yoga, the exact technique of which is a secret known only to genuine practitioners as it is likely to be misunderstood by the ignorant. 

Hinduism is the only religion that has included sex in the 4 purusharthas (the primary goals of human existence): dharma (right action), artha (wealth & prosperity), kama (sexual and other desires), and moksha (emancipation).  

Unfortunately, Hinduism's sexual expression in the form of literature, artworks and sculptures was severely subjugated first by the radical Islamist proscription, and then by the laws based on Victorian prudery of British colonialists.  

Oh, and by the way, Hinduism is the most LGBTQ-friendly religion in the world.

Further reading: 

• My advice to parents and teachers who wonder if children should be educated about sex 
  

• The social & religious implications of being gay

Hindu spiritual practices are demonic: 

You specifically mean yoga, right?  For a bigoted mind, every Hindu spiritual practice appears to be blasphemous.  Far from being an exercise in contortion, yoga is a means to harness the inner energy.  It proceeds from strengthening the body through postures, to controlling the mind through breathing exercises, to reaching the inner spiritual core through meditative practices.  Even though the yogic practice is Hindu in origin, its practice is secular, which is why it is so popular across the world.  It's only evangelical missionaries that find it to be 'demonic,' since it poses a challenge to their agenda of brainwashing and mind control.  

There are several types of yoga and spiritual practices, based on the tradition that they originated from.  If you leave out certain dodgy rituals aimed at material gains, none of these spiritual practices involve anything remotely 'demonic.'  If anything, yoga and meditative processes are the subjects of much recent research with positive findings of improved adjustment, mental calmness, and a resilient disposition in their practitioners.

Further reading: 

• Sri M's book on finding a guru for his spiritual progress, Apprenticed to a Himalayan Master
  
• Book review of BKS Iyengar's book on yoga, Light on Life 

Is Hinduism the most perfect religion? 

Not really.  There are several aspects of Hinduism that I wish would change for the better: over-emphasis on the showy external ritualism and materialism rather than the uplifting inner spirituality, the caste based reservation and discrimination, relying on the karmic law instead of taking timely action against perpetrators of anti-Hindu rhetoric, overcrowding and mismanagement of tirthasthalas, etc.  

But is it the religion that affords the most freedom to its practitioners?  Definitely yes!  

Hinduism is a flexible faith with many additions, modifications and deletions to its tenets; it is not a monolithic, cast-in-stone kind of religion.  It is nonprescriptive in nature; that is to say, there is no one central authority or textbook that prescribes the rules and regulations of what it is to be a 'good' Hindu.  We are not compelled to go to a place of worship on an assigned day of the week, pray facing a certain direction several times a day, or compulsorily fast for a month from dawn to dusk.  

The guidelines provided by the rishis of yore are not to be believed in blindly; indeed, the rishis themselves have advocated an openminded self-inquiry into the nature of the Higher Self.  Each individual is free to interpret and apply all, some or none of these principles into his/her daily practice.  

We believe in the concept of karma, which means both action and the merits/demerits of good/bad actions.  Our emancipation lies in our own hands.  Therefore, we are not preoccupied with misplaced notions of sin, judgement days and eternal hellfire.  

Hinduism is open to criticism from all quarters; indeed, every philosophical variation known to mankind already exists within the realm of Hinduism making it the most diverse and organic faith.  At its core, it is deeply spiritual by nature; the external images and rituals are only guideposts for adherents and seekers to delve deeper into their own being until they reach the inner core of oneness.  

I said in the beginning that I have learnt all this through my deep-dive into Hinduism, but I still feel like I have only scratched the surface.  I am mesmerised by the fathomless depth and beauty of Hinduism.  

I am yet to fully experience the aesthetic and intellectual beauty of such works as Soundarya Lahiri by Adi Shankara, Abhijnana Shakuntalam by Kalidasa, Panini's Sanskrit grammar, Baudhayana's math genius, Sushruta's pioneering treatise on surgery, Charaka's treatise on Ayurvedic medicine, the architectural marvels of Jakanacharya, the bhakti-poetry of Surdas, the erotic rasalila descriptions by Joydeb, and the colloquial version of the Bhagavata, Jnaneshwari, by the child-saint, Jnaneshwar, to mention only a few examples. 

I am yet to comprehend even a tiny aspect of the bhakti of Avvai towards Ganapati, of Meera towards Krishna, of Tulsidas towards Rama, of Akka Mahadevi towards Shiva, or of Tukaram towards Vitthala, to name only a few.  

I do not know if I can; indeed, one lifetime would not be enough to fully appreciate and savour the grandeur and divine beauty of Hinduism.  

Further reading:

• Even today, spirituality is the strength of India.

So what do Hindus want?  

At the most basic level, to be left alone.  As you can see, there is plenty on our plate already; we have to balance our karma with satya and dharma while we mitigate the effects of artha and kama to move towards moksha.  The last thing we want is interference from rabblerousers who only aim to denigrate our faith and convert us to their own faith.  

Consider this: how many countries are there in the world where Hindus form the majority of the population?  Out of the 195 countries, 3! - finger-countable, on one hand!   India is the last refuge of the Hindus.  

What kind of almighty condemns people to such ignominy as eternal hell only because they do not follow his path?  Why is the almighty as described in your scriptures 'zealous' and why should we be 'god-fearing'?  We are a god-loving people.   

Conversions through inducements and coercion aim to not only denigrate and change the adherent's faith, but also end up destroying their lifestyle, culture, artforms, and even feelings of gratitude and loyalty towards their nation/state.  We don't seek to convert you because we don't believe in the notion of conversion.  You are already good enough as you are; you only need to think, speak and act towards the common good of all without expecting anything in return.  Conversions are a blot on humanity, the vilest abominations that one human can inflict on another.  

So, you should understand our reticence when you come to us with your evangelising missions.  Do you honestly believe we would give up the spiritually uplifting things listed above for some vague notion of 'saving souls' from eternal damnation?  No thanks, you can keep it.  

Leave us alone, we shall be just fine! 

Further reading:

• Lessons learnt from a Sentinel event
• Why Hinduism is called Sanatana Dharma - the Eternal Religion  

Film conversations: The Kerala Story

Why I saw this film...

Usually, I never venture into the multiplexes due to prior bad experiences, preferring instead, to catch a new release when it arrives on OTT platforms.  Even as I was watching this film, there was a group of people continuously chattering throughout the movie just behind us.  But I put up with all this only because of one thing: to make a statement.  When the filmmakers are sticking their necks out to show the truth as it is, and others are out to ban the film for the exact opposite reason, I thought I should express my solidarity with the former.  

About the A rating...

This film has been rated A by the censors.  Although understandable, this is unfortunate because adolescent girls, who are one of the gullible and vulnerable target groups, would be deprived of the opportunity to see radical evangelization in action in this film.  

While the ticket sellers were thoroughly checking the IDs of young people at the counters, I couldn't help wondering about the futility of this exercise, because in just a few weeks, this film will make its way to the OTTs where even five-year-olds will have access to it!  When it does, though, I hope adolescent girls do watch it.  

Be that as it may, even as I was walking within the theatre, I saw a family with a woman holding a young sleeping child - either they had given a written undertaking to the ticket sellers that they will keep their child sleeping throughout the film, or, more likely, they snuck in the child by hiding it while buying the tickets! 

Contents of the film...

I am not going to go into the technical aspects, or indeed, the performances in this film, all of which are very good.  I will leave that to the cine critics of which you will find plenty on the Internet.  I shall, instead, focus on the story on which the film is based.  I am also assuming that given the evidence presented towards the end of the film, these stories actually happened and the reasons behind them occurred as shown in the film.

It's also important to remember, as we go into this, that one should challenge the radical ideology per se, and not hate the person with such an idea.  Since Hinduism is the primary target of radical thoughts expressed in this film, I shall focus on this, and attempt to pass on the wisdom gained to the groups involved in or affected by the story of faith-based conversions and persecution. 

To the radicals...

One of your kind, a 'snake-in-the-grass' female recruiter in the film talks about Hindu Gods' powerlessness to defend Hindus, while her Almighty never lets them down.  Here's my counter: 

Why did a crane collapse, killing hundred of 'believers' in the holiest of holy places a few years ago?  Why do 'believers' suffer from hardships such as natural disasters, poverty, and diseases across the globe?  You may defend and deny as much as you want, but one just needs to take a peek in our neighbouring country's yard to understand the dangers stemming from the nexus between a theocratic government, a subversive military, and nonstate extremists.

Further, a woman's clothing does not afford her any protection against a determined sexual predator as has been reported in several crime news reports.  Admit it; the tent-like garb is an expression of extreme patriarchy and intended to keep the woman subdued, something that is harrowingly depicted in this film.  

To the pseudoseculars...

Are you okay with the reductive division of 'believers' and 'non-believers/kafir/heathen' of the entire human population?  How can these prescriptive religions proclaim that their's is the only correct path and that all others are false?  As it is, these book-based religions are yet to figure out if they should interpret their scriptures literally or figuratively.  

Indeed, this very confusion has resulted in the divergent, radical ideologies that the story of this film is based on.  This comes to the fore during several scenes, one such being the discussion whether the use of mobile phones is blasphemous or not.  

How is it that you, the paragons of scientific rigour and logic, are unable to see the stupidity inherent in such misogynistic customs as keeping women under tent-like body/head covers, female genital mutilations, and coerced marriages contingent on conversions of non-believers?

Why is it that you apply the law of free speech differentially?  A case in point: you were okay when the BBC documentary on Gujarat riots was shown in the streets, but silent when the governments of two states banned this film.  One loses count of the number of slurs that Bollywood has inflicted on Hinduism and its adherents over the years.  You ignored all of that, but you are up in arms over this film that has dared to call a spade a spade.

If these issues and the terrorist activities that stem from their misinterpretation do not open your eyes to the clear and present danger they pose to the world and to the future of humanity, I don't know what could be afflicting you.  Instead of calling out this radical ideology for what it is, you are intellectualizing and rationalizing the problem to the extent that one fine day, it will come back to bite you.  

To the parents of girls...

Watch the film and wake up!  As one of the characters asks her hypocrite communist father why he did not teach her about Hinduism, I ask you if you have done enough to educate your children about the beauty of Sanatana Dharma?  Have you told them why it is called so - the Eternal Religion? 

Have you told them about the innumerable Saints that have graced this beautiful land of ours and left behind a rich legacy of love and wisdom?  Have you taught them the meaning behind our customs and rituals, which often have a logical and/or a health-related basis for their existence?  

Have you taught them the basic tenets of Sanatana Dharma: sarvatmabhava (oneness of all souls), satya (truth), dharma (righteousness or right duty), karma (action and fruit of such action), and vasudhaiva kutumbakam (the world is one family)?  Have you pointed out that these values are more important than superficial rituals and a narrow, divisive worldview? 

To girls and young women...

Do not believe in 'love at first sight'.  It only signifies the psychological phenomenon of collapse of ego-boundaries - that is, you are only temporarily identifying with your lover.  When you regain your ego-boundary, the lover's shortcomings become painfully visible, or, in this case, his true colours.  

Instead, place high value on character assessment before you commit to any kind of relationship.  Looks are important initially, but in the long run, the harsh reality is that marriages are hard work, and require a high degree of commitment, trust and adjustment from both parties for them to work. 

Understand that love, in its truest sense, is unconditional.  The moment somebody says 'I shall marry you if you convert to my religion', run from such a person as fast and as far as you can.  You are perfect as you are, and if someone really loves you, he/she will accept you for what you are - your entire personality with its strengths and weaknesses, as well as your faith, language and culture. 

Beware that they will throw the caste brick at you.  Even though the concept of caste/varna/jati is only an indication of the professional groups that traditional Indian society was divided into, no doubt, casteism is a bane in todays' world.  But then, you should ask them, 'why is your own religion divided into so many sects and denominations?'  If there is only one formless Almighty, why then are adherents of these groups fighting amongst themselves for supremacy of their own ideology?

Remember that not all followers of prescriptive religions are radicals, but some are - telling them apart is the problem!  Be friendly with people of all faiths, but do not get so overinvolved that you fall for the indoctrination attempts of those with a proselytizing, bigoted mindset.  

Finally...

The message, one hopes, the followers of book-based religions get is that they live and let live: keep your religious practices, but make sure you are not harming others by disowning radical thoughts and respecting others' faiths.  As I have already said, our battle is with the ideology, not the person - it's the mind and the body that could be corrupted, not the Atman which is pure in all beings.  

Evangelism and conversions are reflective of the underlying insecurity of book-based religions and exposes their patronizing efforts at homogenizing the entire world according to their own restrictive worldview.  

For the reasons cited above, The Kerala Story is highly recommended viewing! 

May truth prevail and justice be done in the cases covered in this film, as well as in all cases of religious conversions and persecution.

Picture source: 
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt24268454/?ref_=tt_mv_close

Is it okay to be GAY?!

Is being gay a social problem?

Gayness has existed since times immemorial; it’s only since Indian people started asserting everything about their personalities openly that we are waking up to the situation.  Bewildered by their own ignorance, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, contrary to eons of cultural conditioning, are having to face the harsh reality that one of their sons, granddaughters, nephews or nieces is gay.  The situation is so glum that for many elders in India, the concept of homosexuality is an impossibility that they struggle to comprehend. 

If you look around, I am certain you can find an uncle or an aunt or a distant relative or a friend who has remained a ‘bachelor/spinster for life’, only because they were unable to declare their actual sexuality to the world for fear of ostracization by their family/community.  Either this, or they submit to the whims of their families and entered into fruitless and joyless matrimony, which if it lasts, is nothing short of torture. 

I am reminded of a recently married male patient who was advised to see me because he was not ‘participating’ in the marriage.  His mother expressed great hope in our therapy process and thought that he would be cured of his marital diffidence, whereas the bride’s side were vehement in their criticism of his family for conniving to get their ‘abnormal’ son married.  The girl even tried to touch him during therapy to demonstrate how he would recoil from her.  At home, the mother apparently stood guard outside the couple’s bedroom so that her son would not escape conjugal union with his spouse!  

What would you do in cases such as these?  How would you address a problem that was created to hide another problem?  How will you tell them that straight marriage is not the one-stop solution to all problems under the sun; that individuals will not be cured of their gayness if they are married off?

While all denominations of the LGBTQI spectrum face the ire of the ‘regulars’ to varying extents, it is the male-male relations that seem to receive the most flak from all quarters in our country.  I am not suggesting female-female relations are accepted without problems – they are not – but somehow men falling for men is considered to be more shocking and unacceptable. 

This is probably due to the expectations surrounding the male progeny; that he should be macho, in control of all situations, well educated, gainfully employed till retirement age, married to a woman who he can keep under his thumb, and able to procreate and raise children according to his family’s expectations.  Any deviation from this norm invites harsh criticism from all quarters, with an expectation of course-correction to fall back in line and ‘settle down’. 

Is homosexuality a disease?

Zoologists have observed homosexual proclivities in animal species as diverse as baboons, giraffes, dolphins, anglerfish, mallard ducks and cats, among others. The Homo sapiens species is no different.

Indeed, the more relevant question to be pondered upon is how is it possible for the entire humanity to be divided right down the middle into male and female genders? 

Birth, influence of genes/environment, physical gender, psychological gender and sexual feelings are complex factors influencing the ultimate gender/sexual expression of an individual.  This is reflected in the ever-increasing numbers of alphabets that are added to the acronym LGBTQ+ that indicates the gay community.  Therefore, reducing gender/sexuality to a binary is a reductive exercise and betrays a lack of understanding of these complexities. 

But ignorance and bigotry make for a deadly duo.  This is why gay people around the world have had to bear with insults, taunts, ostracization, victimization, discrimination, and the worst, conversion therapies.  Anybody who makes a claim that gayness can be cured like any disease is lying, and is probably operating under the influence of the deadly duo. 

Being gay is neither a disorder nor a crime.  Homosexuality has been removed from psychiatric diagnostic manuals such as the ICD-10 (devised by the World Health Organization) and the DSM-5 (devised by the American Psychiatric Association) since a long time. 

Whether it is a crime or not depends on where you are living.  There are still certain countries where the state and the majority of the population are afflicted by the deadly duo and homosexuality is considered a criminal offence.  It is not because gay people do not exist in such societies; it is just that they live a cloistered life, away from public expression.  I have seen this in students who come from a far eastern theocratic country where being gay is outlawed. 

Homosexuality is not a disease, but homophobia is!  Homosexuality is neither a lifestyle choice as surmised by upholders of traditional cultural values nor does it occur due to poor upbringing, as some parents of gay children fear it to be.  On the other hand, homophobia is a by-product of eons of erroneous cultural and religious conditioning.  Further, it can be indicative of the underlying insecurity and a 'fear of the unknown' on part of the ‘straight’ people who seem to operate under the influence of a slew of psychodynamic defence mechanisms and project these fears onto the gay community.

Ultimately though, it is all about the ego.  Families of gay people live in fear of stigma and ostracization.  Deeply affected by the diagnosis, they either live in denial of their son/daughter’s homosexuality and try to get them married, or if they do acknowledge the condition, they try to drag them along to dubious therapies in the vain hope of a ‘cure’.

This non-acceptance of homosexuality and the resulting distress caused by the attitude of their family, relatives and friends can result in gay people experiencing cognitive dissonance – a phenomenon characterized by a discord between how one feels from within and how one has to behave in the outside world.  Combine this with the guilt resulting from cultural and religious bigotry, and you will get some idea as to the pitiable state of mind that gay people have to endure for having been born that way in the wrong place and at the wrong time.    

What do the religions say?

It is most unfortunate that the LGBTQI discourse has been hijacked to some extent by 'wokeists' and pseudoliberals who never let go of an opportunity to pit it against Sanatana Dharma’s tenets, conveniently forgetting the patent homophobia that exists in prescriptive and converting religions.  

If anything, Sanatana Dharma has always been LGBTQI-friendly.  The only Hindu person who claims to have a cure for samlaingikata (that is homosexuality in Hindi), is a prominent yoga guru and Ayurvedic products manufacturer – no prizes for guessing who.  I am an admirer of his work in general, but I disagree with this claim, and I hope he desists from making such misleading claims in the future.   

Leave that aside, and you will find that our itihasas and puranas are replete with stories of LGBTQI characters who are part of the mainstream discourse and play a crucial role in the stories therein.  Mahabharata’s Shikhandini who later became Shikhandi is only one such example.  The enchanting damsel, Mohini, who tricked the Asuras into forgoing their share of the immortal nectar, Amrita, was Vishnu in a female avatar.  The Ardhanarishwara form of Lord Shiva shows Him as a union of the male and female forms.  Aiyappa, the celibate Hill-God of Kerala was born of the union of this very Mohini and Shiva.

These stores underscore the fact that everything in this universe is energy.  So, even gender should be seen as such; varying expressions of the same energy, depicted in different cultures as Purusha-Prakriti and Yin-Yang.

Further, in the Valmiki Ramayana, Lord Rama’s devotee and companion Hanuman is said to have seen rakshasa women kissing and embracing other women during his Lankan sojourn.  At another place, the Ramayana tells the tale of a king named Dilip, who had two wives, but died without leaving an heir. The story says that Lord Shiva appeared in the dreams of the widowed queens and told them that if they made love to each other, they would have a child.  The queens obeyed Lord Shiva and one of them got pregnant and gave birth to a child who grew up to be King Bhagiratha, best known for having brought Ganga from heaven to the earth.

So, why did our culture that was so libertarian that it expressed sexuality on temple walls and in sex treatises become so close-minded and bigoted?

Most likely, it is due to the imposition of puritanism by western invaders/land occupiers that any matter relating to sex was severely curtailed, the crowning glory being the imposition of Article 377 by the British, which the Indian government foolishly continued even after the British themselves had legalized gay relations in their own country. 

As the scholar of Abrahamic studies, Sumit Paul, says: ‘Thousands of years of slavery and the restrictive Semitic civilisational influence transformed the collective mentality of Indians and changed their psycho-sexual behavioural ethos.  We began to condemn our own cultural heritage and history.’

It took a few enterprising NGOs to take the matter to the Supreme Court to have the article struck down.  Still, that’s only one part of the struggle; till date there are no equal civil rights to marry, or to register children/properties for gay couples (this matter is sub judice in the Supreme Court, as of April 2023). 

Spiritually, we are moving from one body to another; sometimes male, sometimes female, sometimes other genders.  So, a man might have been a woman in a previous birth, and may be reborn as a transgender in the next.  So why confine yourself to this birth alone?  If you look at it from the universal and spiritual perspective, it hardly matters whether you are male, female or other. 

As per spiritual healers and masters, your soul decides which body to inhabit prior to its earthly sojourn.  You are a spirit wearing the garb of a human body, put here to do certain actions with your free will so as to facilitate your karmic journey through this birth and the next with the ultimate aim of attaining moksha.  So, focus on that, and give up your fixation with ephemeral bodily features. 

What should parents/families do?

As I have written under sex education, have an open conversation with your child at the appropriate time about their sexual preference.  Alternative sexuality is a normal variation of sex expression, just as being left-handed or grey-eyed is.  There is more to your child than just his/her sexuality; look at developing their overall personality, academic interests and any other passion.  Do not reduce their life to fretting over the fact that they may not get married or have children.  There is more to life’s purpose than these events.  Remember that not everybody is cut out to get married or have children.

Whether we like it or not, whether governments of the day dither or not, whether radical religions oppose it or not, and even if self-appointed custodians of Indian culture send missives to the President asking for equal civil rights not to be granted to the gay community, gayness always was and always will be.  It will be accepted as being part of the mainstream in the future, if not now. 

As we emerge from the heteronormative prerogative of brushing aside anything queer under the carpet, we need to figure out how to uplift 'hijras'/'eunuchs' from a marginalized lifestyle that involves begging from and harassing people at traffic signals towards a more mainstream life of gainful employment through equal opportunities.  And yes, for that matter, toilets and restrooms would also have to be redesigned to be more inclusive of the LGBTQI community.  

I envisage a future wherein intimate relations would be an optional undertaking rather than mandatory, with the individuals having a wide range of sexual/gender diversity to select their partners from. 

Resources/references:

• LGBT banner picture: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT
• https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/panorama/time-to-destigmatise-homosexuality-1152092.html
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality_in_India#:~:text=On%207%20September%202018%2C%20a,making%20homosexuality%20legal%20in%20India.
• Shikhandi: And Other Tales They Don't Tell You, Devdutt Pattanaik, Zubaan and Penguin Books India, 2014

Yoga: 'Is it validated?'

In 2015, I somehow managed to contract a gut infection and was admitted in the hospital for about 10 days.  During the prolonged recuperation period post-discharge, I resolved that I should do something about my health/immunity.  I decided to take up yoga lessons and enrolled myself at a local yoga teacher's class.

Since then I have been doing yoga asanas, pranayama, meditative exercises, walking, and mild weight training, while taking adequate quantity and quality of mostly vegetarian diet.  Even though I am not practising vigorous yogic asanas, I make sure I do them regularly - more than the duration or intensity, I score high on consistency.  Yoga has become a way of life, something that I do as a daily routine.  

This has kept me going since then without any adverse health event, bar an occasional upper respiratory infection, and I continue to maintain my weight and fitness at a reasonable level.    

I have also advised patients that I see to take up yoga to maintain health, and/or to reduce the symptoms of disorders such as anxiety and stress.  I have tried to modify my own medical practice by incorporating holistic healing techniques, including Ayurveda and yoga, in collaboration with a qualified practitioner.

However, I have also realised that yoga is fraught with misconceptions and scepticism.  Generally, I divide the naysayers into two broad groups: sceptics and bigots.  The former are those who are genuinely sceptical about the health benefits of yoga; that is, they want to do it, but are uncertain about the overall effect of doing yoga.  They are more trusting of allopathic medical systems, and cast a distrusting eye over anything eastern/oriental.  

Then there are the bigots, by which I mean adherents of dogmatic religions who have been brainwashed into believing that anything outside their own religious practice is worthy of condemnation and derision.  These are the incorrigibles who will go to any extent to discredit, vilify, demonize and discourage anything that is remotely sanatanic, be it yoga, consecrated food, worshipping images/idols, or wearing bindis, for that matter.  

I quote a few examples.  A few years ago, a pastor in the US famously called yoga a 'demonic' practice.  When I was working in the UK, an Egyptian-Arabic doctor colleague spoke very condescendingly of yoga, and was dismissive of its healing power. 

Ironically, even in India, where yoga originated yugas ago, it has been reduced to a 'new age' fad, a necessity that we have taken to vicariously because the West has taken a fancy to it.  'Whatever they do, it must be good for us too,' seems to be the thought process behind the revival of yoga in our society, reflective of the underlying western bias thanks to the Macaulayian education system that we are all products of.  

In Bangalore, at a certain missionary hospital I was working in, a physician colleague of a certain denomination, inquired if yoga was 'validated' as a treatment when I said that I was advising my patients to do yoga.  He remained sceptical even after I explained that it was, and suggested that yoga was being promoted because of the wave of saffronization that was sweeping across the country!  

His religious bias against yoga became apparent when, during a later encounter, he was all for incorporating tai chi as a therapeutic practice in the treatment of neurological movement disorders, but evidently not yoga.  Perhaps, anything that was remotely sanatanic in its origin was a strict taboo for him due to his evangelical disposition.       

I find that sceptics, bigots and allopathy-chauvinists are quick to ask if yoga is 'validated' as a therapeutic intervention, fully ignoring the fact that the so-called evidence-based allopathic interventions hardly cure chronic illnesses, and worse, cause harmful adverse effects.   

More and more studies are confirming the physical and mental health benefits of yoga, such as those conducted at the premier neurosciences centre in the country, NIMHANS (in Bangalore), which has a dedicated yoga research centre.  These studies have been published in leading Indian journals, notably, the Indian Journal of Psychiatry, and at least on one occasion, in a special yoga supplement of the British Journal of Psychiatry.

But since we seem to value western opinion so much, I shall quote examples from western studies: in 2019, researchers in the USA found that yoga and breathing exercises improved the symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder after just one session, with cumulative effects in the long term [1].  A meta-analytic study published in the peer-reviewed journal in 2013, showed that yoga had beneficial effects on hypertension [2].  

If you look at the current the allopathic treatments for these very conditions, you will find that antidepressants can only increase serotonin and other neurotransmitter levels in the brain, but cannot address the root cause of depression.  Similarly, antihypertensives can symptomatically reduce the BP, but cannot cure hypertension.  Both these groups of medications are associated with their own unique side-effects. 

Researchers from Washington State and Ohio State Universities found that yoga can improve body image, which may be helpful in the treatment of eating disorders [3].  Again, there is no definitive treatment in the allopathic psychiatric system for any of the eating disorders, and mortality rate for anorexia nervosa, even with standard intervention, remains very high. 

For the sceptics among you, I would suggest that you ask yourself these questions: Is there any harm in doing yoga?  Clearly not, if done under proper guidance.  Is it beneficial for physical/mental health?  Several studies seem to indicate so.  Can it be the sole treatment for all conditions?  No, one has to judiciously use the right treatment technique for the right condition, or even combine allopathic, other complementary, or any of the yogic practices for a good therapeutic effect.  

Further, more than a therapeutic intervention, I see yoga as a preventive measure; a positive medical/psychiatric practice that can promote good health through balancing the body, mind and spirit.  Surely, with these conditions satisfied you should have no hesitation in accepting yoga as a holistic healing practice, unless religious bigotry prevents you from doing so.  

Which brings me to the bigots.  I have no solution for the bigots out there.  If bending your body a certain way in the pursuit of healthy body/mind is an affront to your religious belief, then it must be based on a very rigid and insecure premise [4], and frankly, it is your loss.  A case in point: similar sentiments were behind the decision to eliminate suryanamaskar from the very first International Yoga Day event in 2015 (but we did it anyway!).

Finally, the decision to do yoga has to come from within you.  Sanatana Dharma does not believe in enforcing any particular practice on anybody.  Watch videos and read books on the topic of yoga if you are unsure.  You can begin by reading the book Light on Life by the yoga master, B K S Iyengar, which clearly elucidates the spiritual nature of yoga.  Speak to those who are already doing it and ask if they have noticed any beneficial changes.  

And only if you are fully convinced, take up yoga classes from a trained practitioner.

Picture: How-To-Meditate-Making-The-Most-Of-Meditation.jpg (815×588) (meditationlifeskills.com)

References:

1. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313806681_Treatment_of_Major_Depressive_Disorder_with_Iyengar_Yoga_and_Coherent_Breathing_A_Randomized_Controlled_Dosing_Study (reported in bu.edu/brink)
2. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/239948768_Effectiveness_of_Yoga_for_Hypertension_Systematic_Review_and_Meta-Analysis 
3. https://cpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com/u.osu.edu/dist/1/10560/files/2020/12/Cox_Tylka_2020_Conceptual-Model.pdf (reported in PsychologyToday.com)
4. Quote attributed to Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev

  

Book recommendation: Laws of the Spirit World

As I have said with other book recommendations, there are times when you do not read a book for its literary merits.  Rather, you read for the content: the message it conveys and how it will affect you.  

This is one such book.

You might have wondered to yourself, what is life?  What is the purpose of our existence?  What should our life goals be?  Why do have relationship issues?  What should we avoid doing?  How are we doing in terms of achieving our goals in the phenomenal world, and in the spiritual sense?

If so, then this book is for you.

It only requires two things of you: belief and an open mind.  You won't be able to progress much if you don't believe the source of the messages contained in this book.  Secondly, if you are the ultra-rational type, who seeks a logical explanation for every occurring, then too, this is not for you.

Apart from the answers to larger issues mentioned above, here is a sample of the some of the words of wisdom that I perused in this book - spiritual mahavakyas, if you like:

• 'Yes, God exists!'
• 'Suicide is sin.'
• 'Murder is never part of God's plan.'
• 'On Earth, wise men created marriages to safeguard children...'
• 'Nothing happens before its time - so just wait and relax...'
• 'Do not be judgmental, but use your judgment.'
• 'Choose goodness for the sake of goodness itself.'
• '... all thoughts create energy, so be aware of what energy you are creating.'
• '...hope is essential to human survival.'
• 'Positivity is a choice no matter what the situation.'
• 'Fame on Earth has absolutely no value in the spirit world.'
• 'To do God's work means to use your position of strength to help others grow.'
• 'Whatever your path, learn to view it from a spiritual perspective.'
• 'Instead of feeling great, feel grateful.'

Though it is clearly mentioned in the book that 'there is no religion in the spirit world,' I could not help noting the obvious congruence of the messages with those of the scriptures of Sanatana Dharma.  

So, here are a few that indicate this:

• It is not God, but the Law of Karma that punishes us for our misdeeds.
• One can accrue both negative and positive Karma, according to the nature of our actions.
• '...reincarnation means the same spirit being born on Earth life after life.'
• 'Take action.  Do your best and leave the rest to God.'  [To me, this is a direct vindication of the overarching message of the Bhagavad Gita: do your duty and don't worry about the results.]
• 'Yoga is wonderful for the mind, body and spirit.'
• 'To know God is to know ourselves, discover who we are, and discover His goodness within us.' [Confirms the message of spiritual unity of all living beings with Brahman, as propounded by Adi Shankaracharya's Advaita philosophy]
• 'True success is spiritual success and not earthly success.' and 'Do not think of power.  Think of spiritual strength.' and 'Lead a simple, honest, kind and selfless life.'  [underpin the importance of viveka (discrimination), vairagya (non-attachment) and nishkama seva (selfless service), that are advocated for spiritual progress in Hinduism]
• 'The things that you can see are temporary; the things that are not visible are eternal.' [indicative of maya, which is the attribute of the phenomenal world that prevents us from realising Brahman, once again, from Advaita]
• 'There will come a point when Nature itself will erase negativity.'  There is also mention of 'shift of Earth's axis' and natural disasters that will wipe away negativity caused by human vice.  [comparable to pralayas (great dissolution of creation) that end each of the four yugas (time periods) mentioned in the Bhagavata Purana]

Bear in mind the spirit communications delivering these messages are from two recently deceased Parsi gentlemen to their mother.  Just like in my other book recommendation, Many Lives, Many Masters, it is reassuring for me to know that our rishis have, over the ages, given us the message of spiritual enhancement, which is only recently being vindicated by non-Hindu thinkers/writers and through scientific studies. 

Even if you are a sceptic, it wouldn't hurt to learn through the messages conveyed in this book and put them into practice, if only to become a better human being.

Highly recommended reading from an early age, so that we know what really matters in life and over what pursuits we need to invest our time and energy during our lifetime. 

Thank you, Vispi, Ratoo, Khorshedji and Rumiji.  May you reach the highest Universe and Realm.

Image source: https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/514KGkGN84L.jpg

General Elections 2019: Why Modi? [with 2024 update]

Permit me to begin with the disclaimer that I am not affiliated to any political party.  I lean neither to the Left nor the Right.  I am not a bhakt, sanghi or media-influencer.  I am just a law-abiding, tax-paying citizen of India who is interested in the welfare of the country and its future.

The 2019 Lok Sabha elections are upon us.  We are faced with the task of electing the next central government. 

Since assuming office in 2014, the current Prime Minister Narendra Modi has initiated a slew of developmental measures, many of which have been awe-inspiring and motivational, many of which have revealed his statesmanship and integrity.  Sometimes, he and his ministers have had to take tough decisions for the sake of the good of the country, often with scant regard to political affiliations and personal ambitions.

In spite of these, rather, because of these measures, Modi’s political detractors have formed unholy alliances to oust the incumbent government.  His opposition would have us believe that the Modi government is worthless, fascist, intolerant.  Since the inception of the Modi government in 2014, the opposition parties have gone on a rabble-rousing spree, as they have attempted to discredit the government with some frivolous charges: the intolerance movement that fizzled out, that the government cannot be run by a chaiwala who is a neech aadmi, ‘shoot-and-scoot’ corruption charges, etc. 

What are you and I, the citizens of the land, the voters, to do?  Who do we listen to?  Whom do we vote for?  Why Modi, again?  Before we seek answers for these questions, consider this:

Bharata, the legendary son of Shakuntala and Dushyanta was renowned for his strength, valour and righteousness.  Legend has it that, during his reign, he conducted 800 Ashwamedha yagnas for the betterment of his subjects: 100 of them on the banks of the Yamuna, 300 on the banks of the Saraswathi, and 400 on the banks of the Ganga.  He spared no efforts for the welfare and upliftment of his subjects.  Such was his sense of integrity that when it came to choosing his successor, he did away with the usual practice of handing over the throne to his next of kin.  Instead, he selected Bhumanyu, who was unrelated to him, due to his virtuous qualities of strength, intelligence and compassion.  Lest we forget, it is not for nothing that India is named after him: Bharatavarsha. 

I am convinced if Bharata were to be come back to visit us today, he would be utterly disappointed with the political state of affairs in our country. 

He would, for instance, strongly condemn the fact that a grand old party that ran the government at the centre for over 60 years, has managed to keep the party presidency within one single family – like a piece of family furniture to be handed over from generation to generation. 

He would certainly disapprove of the clown prince of the said party, with absolutely zero political credentials, who has the audacity to consider himself a prime ministerial candidate. 

He would admonish the so-called erudite intellectuals of the said party of licking the dynasty’s boots.  Especially so because like in the story, The Emperor’s New Clothes, the bootlickers refuse to acknowledge that the clown prince is intellectually and politically naked.

He would be disgusted at some regional minsters/politicians whose sons, having tried their hand at acting and playing cricket, and having failed at both, have entered the political arena to cash in on their baap ka raaj.

He would watch in disbelief at the level of hero-worship and sycophancy of blind followers of corrupt-to-the-core politicians.

He would be disgusted at the level of one-upmanship, muck-raking, backstabbing, name-calling and Machiavellian machinations by opposition members to undermine even well-intentioned government schemes and development measures.  

Most of all, Bharata would be utterly disappointed in you and I, his subjects, the citizens of Bharatavarsha, for tolerating these corrupt, vile, self-serving, dynastic opportunists.

Indeed, the nepotism inherent in the old-but-not-so-grand-anymore party is reminiscent of the accounts of rajas' and badshahs' attitude of entitlement and expectation of being waited upon by doting servants.  This is just blind belief in the elusive concept of purity of lineage, and definitely not a measure of success.

It is worth noting that success is defined as overcoming adverse circumstances and working hard to better oneself in all spheres of life.  One does not become successful by being born in a royal family or a particular dynasty, which is the clown prince's dubious claim to fame.  The true definition of success can be applied to Modi, who has worked hard to overcome adversity and reach the top. 

Still, are we saying that the Modi government has provided a perfect panacea for all the woes of India?  No, certainly not.  (I have never supported the beef-ban, for instance.)  But there is no doubting the hard work and sincerity behind all the developmental measures undertaken by Modi’s government.  And, most significantly, as opposed to the disastrous decade of the accidental prime minister, there has not been a single scam. 

One can discern the intent of the political detractors who have formed the alliance to oust Modi: to defeat BJP at any cost and regain control on the riches of the land so that they and their stooges can once again run riot.

Leaving aside the politicians, if one were to peruse the names of the detractors who pour vitriol against the Modi government on social media message boards, it would be clear that they belong to one of the two Abrahamic religions.  In all probability, they dislike the fact that a man with Sanatanic Dharmic roots should be the leader of a population that they are fervently hoping would be converted to their own faith.

Therefore, in the absence of any logical reason for the hatred that the detractors have towards Modi, his government, and his developmental measures, I struggle to come up with any other reason than political ambition and religious bias. 

The titular question, hence, is a rhetorical one: Why Modi? 

Still, if one were to persist, my response to the question would be: Why not Modi? 

Is there a better alternative?  Somebody who is not a product of a dynasty, sycophancy, or corruption?

The changes that Modi has initiated need to continue if they were to bear fruit.  If any of his detractors usurps power, he/she will not think twice before reversing these changes and put India back by several decades as the previous government had done.

 

If you have got an equivalent if not better prime ministerial candidate than Modi, please propose his/her name.  If you can find somebody as hardworking and with as much rectitude as Modi, please name him/her.

While you scrounge for such a candidate in the current political cauldron bereft of scruples and integrity, I know which button I will be pressing during this Lok Sabha elections: one that will vote Modi back in.

For the sake of the future of Bharatavarsha, I urge you to do the same.

Update April 2024:

What if I were to tell you that there is a man with no immediate family who is selflessly working 24/7 for the welfare of the country?  That he is somehow magically able to transport himself across the length and breadth of the country to commence dozens of development initiatives - sometimes several different locations in a single day?

We are now in the polling period for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, and the above issues expressed regarding the 2019 elections remain the same.  PM Modi has gone about setting up schemes, institutions and infrastructures at such a frenetic pace that it is hard to believe that anybody of his age can keep up the energy required to achieve all this in a span of 10 years - much more than his predecessors ever achieved in the 65 years of Independence.  

And long may this continue.  Once again, in the absence of any credible alternative, we are lucky to have a person who has dedicated his entire existence towards nation building and development - in spite of the devious designs of his detractors who are leaving no stone untuned to deny him a third term.  

Just to quote an example: first-time voters are being sought out near college gates and handed pamphlets ostensibly encouraging them to vote; but a closer scrutiny will reveal that the organization behind this is a left-wing, pseudosecular one whose only agenda is to get them to vote for another party.  Meanwhile the clown prince continues his fruitless sojourns - may he continue his long walk into political oblivion.  

Given all this, the least we can do is to vote PM Modi back to power.  

May Bharata remain Akhanda under his leadership.  

May Rama Rajya be heralded with inclusive opportunities for all communities.  

May Bharata achieve Vishwa Guru/Bandhu status.  

May Sanatana Dharma continue to flourish in the only land in the world that it can call its Home.

Uttishtha Bharata!

Image source: https://www.indiatvnews.com/elections/lok-sabha-elections-2019-lok-sabha-elections-narendra-modi-favourite-pm-candidate-of-muslims-for-2019-says-senior-bjp-leader-shahnawaz-hussain-476871

God's own country? Not for this Hindu God

Swami Ayyappa, Swami Ayyappa...

Neene gatiyappa, nanage neene gatiyappa...

[O Lord Ayyappa... You are my only refuge...]

Thus sings Kerala's living legend Yesudas in an old Kannada film.  (It would be very interesting to know the legend's views on the chaos unleashed by the Supreme Court's recent verdict on Sabarimala.)

First of all, let's cast a glance on the mytho-history of the place.  Lord Ayyappa, born of the union of Shiva and Vishnu (as Mohini), is also called Hari-Hara Putra for this reason.  He was borne specifically to bring an end to the demoness Mahishi.  After her annihilation at the hands of the Lord, Mahishi was released from her curse and was transformed into a beautiful maiden.  She proposed marriage to the Lord.  The Lord refused, but relented later by stating that he will marry her if and when His devotees stop appearing at his doorstep.  

Malikapurathamma, as Mahishi is called today, is said to be waiting in a separate temple in the Sabarimala complex for such an eventuality to occur.  As a mark of respect for her patience and sacrifice, women in the childbearing age voluntarily refrain from entering the sanctum of Lord Ayyappa. 

Besides, the bhaktas of Lord Ayyappa are required to observe brahmacharya - complete celibacy for a period of 41 days before the Makara Sankranti (in mid-January every year) when they congregate at Sabarimala for the ensuing worship and festivities.  The male bhaktas are required to wear the mala and black dress throughout the period of abstinence.  They are to follow strict rituals and changes in lifestyle: not smoking/drinking, not consuming non-vegetarian diet, and crucially, abstaining from sex.  (I have seen several patients, severe alcohol-dependents who have turned teetotalers during this period.)    

A male bhakta is to look upon others as his brothers and sisters, and address his fellow bhaktas as 'Swami'/'Sami'.  Basically, an average male follower transforms himself into something of a living saint during this period of purity and abstinence.  Therefore, for the male bhaktas, contact with women in the reproductive age-group is strictly prohibited.

These, as far as I am aware, are the only reasons why women in childbearing age are disallowed from entering the holy sanctum at Sabarimala.  And mind, the women in this age-group have been following this dictum voluntarily; they are not being oppressed or excluded from worship due to any patriarchal reasons.   

Having said all that, do we want the status quo to continue?  Do we want women to be excluded from the sanctum, even due to the reasons cited above?  Clearly not.  We want them to enter the sanctum... eventually.  We want the perception of purity to undergo a transformation that does not look at the act of menstruation as necessarily evil or impure.  But such a change takes time.  

All through the history of Indian society, there have been examples of arrival and settlement of alien cultures and traditions that went through the dual process of conflict, and adjustment and assimilation, before the syncretism that we see today became a reality.  This is true of foreign invasion and occupation of India and the sociocultural changes thereof, the bhakti movement that originated from the need to negate ritualism and varna/jati system, the abolition of sati, the prevention of child-marriage, the laws against dowry system, saving and educating the girl child, decriminalization of homosexuality, etc.  None of these occurred instantaneously: they came about only after several hundreds and thousands of years of conflict, adjustment, and finally, acceptance.  

In time, with gradual change in opinions, through well-intentioned laws and acts, and altered public perception, the bigger transformation will come about.  So the key word here is, eventually... eventually change will occur; it is not easy to change firmly entrenched cultural and religious notions by the single stroke of a tipsy judge's pen.  

I say tipsy because the Honourable Judges of the Supreme Court seem to have acted on a whim - the kind that occurs to you after downing a peg or two.  I further wonder if the Honourable Judges of the Supreme Court got out of the wrong side of the bed on the day, and said, "Yo dude!  Let's do something rad today!"  And then 4 of the 5 Judges decided to strike off the sacrosanct 800 year old religious custom at Sabarimala.  (It is interesting to note that the one Judge who dissented was a woman.)  I would like to call these four assenting Judges, the 'Rad 4'.   

The present Keralite government is of course, chuffed, considering its manifesto appears to be aligned only against Hindu practices, and not any other religion's.  The government, in all likelihood, arranged for the surreptitious entry of women in childbearing age-group into the sanctum.  They also brought out a human wall of women in support of the Supreme Court's verdict.  It was howlarious to watch interviews of burkha-clad women who hadn't a clue what they were doing there; one of them confessed her husband asked her to be there!  Sorry mate, Irony, that's another death for you...   

Apparently the Rad 4 were concerned about "equality, freedom of conscience and right to personal liberty" of [Hindu] women, and the fact that "to treat [Hindu] women as the children of a lesser God is to blink at the Constitution," and "placing the burden of men's celibacy on women stigmatizes them, stereotypes them."  Noble... noble thoughts indeed!

I have added [Hindu] to the above statements since the Rad 4 appear to be concerned only about the welfare of Hindu women.  Dear Honourable Rad 4, may I draw your attention to the following non-Sabarimala examples where women are so stigmatized and stereotyped that their plight blinks at the Constitution?

1. Girls/women are not allowed into the sanctum of the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir.  Yes, even infant girls are not allowed - I have experienced this first-hand.

2. Women are disallowed from attending Friday prayers in mosques.  

3. Churches of many denominations do not have female priests/pastors because "only a baptised man validly receives sacred ordination".

4. Women of a certain religion are required to wear redundant head-cloths and dress up like walking bank vaults.  They are considered to be the 'personal property' of their husbands with hardly any rights to property/divorce.

5. In a certain religion, polygamy is allowed, but polyandry is disallowed.

5. Preachers of a certain religion exhort their male adherents into carrying out certain acts that will get them a place in paradise where they will be served upon by virgins.  Yes, nothing short of virgins would do for our intrepid heroes, when, after a hard day's bombing, they go to claim their just reward.  

6. In certain religions, the inhuman and dangerous practice of female genital mutilation continues to date.   

One could go on, of course, but you get the point?  The legend of Sabarimala is a matter of faith - why target only Hindus' faith and not the faith of other religions?  Conversely, why not go hammer and tongs at the regressive religious practices of other religions as well?  In the absence of the latter, the question that begs to be asked is, does the Supreme Court possess the will, impartiality and courage to do so?

I am not holding my breath over it.  However, until the Supreme Court does so, we can seek succour from the song quoted above.  

Swamiye sharanam Ayyappa...!

Image sources:
https://www.hindugallery.com/lord-ayyappa-images/
https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/unprecedented-security-in-sabarimala-trupti-desai-held-up-at-kochi-airport-due-to-protests-3187451.html

References:
https://www.speakingtree.in/allslides/do-you-know-the-story-of-ayyappa/272129
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/sabarimala-legend-women-lord-ayyappa-1351674-2018-09-28
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/sabarimala-verdict-live-updates-supreme-court-women-temples-kerala-5377598/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordination_of_women_and_the_Catholic_Church. (Vatican Canon 1024: http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P3P.HTM)